Terminal fitting



Sept. 13, 1949. w, MEIGHAN 2,481,610

TERMINAL FITTING Filed May 2 2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l fiwenior R ZZ ZiamA.Meigka2z Hiking Sept. 13, 1949. w. A. MEIGHAN TERMINAL FITTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1944 Patented Sept. 13 1949 TERMINAL FITTING William n netball, Portland, ar a; Application May 22, 1944, Serial No. 536,684

ifs Claims; (01. 29-1 29) j The object of my invention is to provide a terminal fitting for a rope which is so constructed and. arranged. that one end of a rope maybe bound thereto securely andefiiciently without r equiring a splice to be made or without requiring that a tight knot be formed in said end of the rope. Fastening may be effected, also, without requiring that-the end of said rope be threaded longitudinally through an eye. This type of fitting has particular use in connection with ropes used for whipping down heavy loads or inmaking connections. in the field quickly and without the use of tools. g 1

My'inventlonis particularly usefulin connection withwire rope, which is relatively stifi and elastic, and which resists being bound about bodies which deiormsaid rope from a straight line. The stiffness and elasticity of said. rope tend to hold it from falling in p l ace. It is particularly 'difiicult to anchor the extreme end of the rope to initiate the making of any securing hold on a body. It essential, also, that said rope leave the body to which it is secured by one end in more or less of a straightline, so that said rope will not be subject to flexure or wear over an edge in the bight of the line.

I attain this object by the use of a terminal fitting having an external groove adapted to form a relatively sharp revers'ebend inthe end of .the rope and then to lead said'rope' ihelicallyiabout said body. 'It is then'forrnedinto a course extending substantially longitudinally of saidfitting so that it leaves'said fitting substantially in a straight line. Said course, in making said several convolutions, intersects itself more than once, so that the rope itself tends to bind and hold the convolutions of the rope tightly in place.

Further and other details of my invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a terminal fitting embodying my invention, illustrating the manner in which the end of a rope is first formed in a reverse bend initially to secure said rope to said fittin Fig. 2 is a similar elevation, illustrating the manner in which said rope may then be bent into a helical turn about said body;

Fig. 3 is a similar view in which said helical turn is caused to pass over the reversely bent rope to bind it in place;

Fig. 4 is a View of said fitting turned slightly to illustrate how the helical portion may merge into a longitudinal course with the rope shown quite slack;

Fig. 5 a view illustrating how theropernay be pulled lengthwise after it is passed through a slot leading into a rope-engaging eye;.and,;

Fig. 6 is a similar-view; showing the fastening fully; made and with the rope lying within the several convolutions of thegroove and forming a secure fastening to said terminal fitting.

A, terminal rope fitting I embodyin my invention may be formed with any load-engagingelement, and in the accompanying drawings I have shown it formed with a hook 2. It is to beunderstood, however, that itmig ht be formed with a pair of spaced. eyes such, for example; as with a clevis. or shackle, or it. might be formed with any type of connection adapte'djto be' secured to aload. U f- In securing said fitting to a rope 3.1 preferably engage the rope at a point to, spaced substantially from the extremity 31), so that if the parts should slide slightlyi'n forming thelooped engagement, theend will not. be pulled -free...' In practice, however, the rope does not slide any appreciable degree. The rope is first forme d with a relatively sharp bend at 3a, lying ina correspondingly shaped lecess..4,.as. viewed' in'Fig. 1. The rope may thn'be wound about the'body of the fitting in spiral form; underlying the eyeflor rope-securing member. 5 and downwardlyrto a point where itover'lies the rope at, the bent portion3a.f a .1 U 1 n This section of rope 30 extends substantially the entire distance about the circumference of the rope fitting lying in recess 6. Said recess merges gradually upwardly towards said eyein a straight recess section I, extending longitudinally of the body toward and through the bore 8 of said eye or rope-securing member 5. Said straight section of rope 3d overlies the spiral section 30, as is shown most clearly in Figs, 4 to 6, inclusive.

Passing radially through the eye 5 and into the bore 8 thereof, is a slot 9. Said slot is inclined obliquely to the major axis of the elongated rope fitting. Thus, said straight section of rope must first be inclined to aline with said slot, in the manner shown in Fig. 4, until it enters the bore 8, as is shown in Fig. 5. Then, when tension is applied to said rope, it is pulled tightly into section 3d, and the merging part with section 30 falls into line, as is shown in Fig. 6.

It can thus be seen that said terminal fitting can be bound to one extremity of a rope without forming a tightly knotted connection and without requiring that said rope be threaded endwise through any eye or aperture.

7 section 30, is fitted in place.

to the rope. On larger diameter lengths of wire 7 rope, the loop may be roughly formed after the I deem it quite important that the end be to bring the various sections into place in "their recesses. trainee the pinch "or bind which makes said fastening practical, although the overlying'course's Said reverse bend, as at 3a, tendsto 4 other at more than one point, whereby a rope can be secured to said fitting without being tied into a tight knot.

2. A terminal rope fitting having an elongated body with an engaging element arranged at one end thereof and a rope securing member at the other, an externally formed rope receiving recess arranged intermediate said ends, said recess dejirst a reverse bend, then a helical course tt'lgoiit the "body, and then; -a longitudinally extending course, leading "toififard'aiid thrciilgh said v,rope securing member, said recessed courses inters'cting each other at more than one point, said i EFroDesecuring member being annular and having 1;? locked on the fitting with somemeyei's'e "bend, such as at Sat, so as to prevent .ibl're, wire {mint ;j slipping or creepin when tension is later applied also' to be noted that the ittremity 3b is kicked tfi" sta l dbl-ique angle' from"the major longi- 11' so that the overalldiameter oftlre terminal'fit- 'ting with the rope in place will not produce a large knob like mass, "Said '1'ces$es must 'be 's'ufilc'iently deep, however, {at ft, for example, "to lock the reverse bend portion 3a in place, and it is desirable that the other 'i'eces'ses be of comparable'depth' to promote uniformity; eventhough other "sections, such as '30 and 3d, oyeriie'oth'er portions "of the rope.

'Iclai'm;

l. Aternii'ria lrope hating anelongated 'b dwwl hanjefiga ine le nt .r afige ne end thereof and a rope seeming" "member at the th r, a xt rna lyif rmed rope ece v n re e arranged intermediate"said 'ends; said'recess-des fining first a reverse bend, then a helicalfcourse labout thejbodyfand 'thenfa longitudinally extending course iea dlng towardsaidIrop'eisecuring member, said" recessed courses intersecting each a radially disposed slot extending therethru,

through'which slot said rope may be passed laterally, .where bya rope can be secured to said fittingwithout being tied into a tight knot and without being threaded longitudinally through an eyed portion thereof. g

V '3. iiterminal rope' fittmg having an elons'a't'ed body'tvith an engaging element "arranged at 'e'ndthereof and a rope securing member-at the othen anextemally:formed repereceiving recess arranged intermediate said endssaid recess'-de' fining first a reverse bend trien'a' helieal course about the-bddy,"and then a longitudinally extendirig course "leadin toward and through said rope seeurm member, said recessed courses intersectin -escnoth r at'more than one point, said rope-securing member beingannular and having a radially esp-bees "siot extending *theretnru, through which slot said rope may be *pa's'sed laterally, said slot beiii-gfobiiquely disposed with respect to the longitudinal dimension "of said fitting, whereby a"-"rope"ca'n be-secured to said fitting without being tied into a tight knot and without-being threaded longitudinally through aney'edportiontnereoi; V

'WILLIAM'fl. -MEIGHAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references arebf record 'in the file of this patent:

UNITEDSTATES PATENTS "Number Name v hate 7,

j 1490,1250 "H r-flak Jan.,17,-1 9s n 1,012,328 cape Dec. 13911911 11931236 "Meigh'ah -jMa'r. 12, 1940 

